The following are some helpful reminders as we approach this election.

1. Don’t make an idol out of the State.
I refuse to frame this election in a way that exalts one man or woman above the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ alone is the hope for America or any other nation. God alone has the power to make America great. God alone is the source of hope and prosperity. God alone is our refuge and strength. God’s purposes and God’s people will prevail. We must not make an idol out of people or the political parties they represent.

2. It’s time to look in the mirror!
It has been said that politics is downstream of culture, and culture is downstream from the Church. We have two remarkably flawed candidates for the most powerful position on planet earth. How did this happen? It’s rather simple. Because each represent the least common denominator of the desires of the American people. They, unfortunately, are a mirror image of our “collective selves” as Americans. When the people had a choice between Jesus, the sinless Son of God, and Barabbas, a hardened, vile criminal (Mt. 27:17), they sided with the “candidate” with whom they felt most comfortable – the scoundrel. The sad truth is the candidates we have are the ones who most accurately reflect the soul of our nation.

3. We must own the problem.
We are witnessing the fruit of a very long pattern of civil disengagement by those who profess to be followers of Jesus. As Christ’s Church, the ones called to be the salt and light in the culture, we have failed in reaching lost people and discipling them to think, act and lead, like Jesus in our culture. This is why we have lost our influence in the larger culture and why we have no good options to choose from in this election cycle. Our disengagement from public life has created a tremendous vacuum that is currently being filled with those who are passionate about their vision for America.

4. We have a much larger problem on our hands.

This distasteful election is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We are a nation that has abandoned God and we are now reaping what we have sown. God says, “If you abandon me, I will abandon you (2 Chr. 15:2).” We are essentially “on our own” right now as a nation. We are getting the leaders we deserve. We are eating the fruit of a nation that has for decades rejected God from our public affairs. Chaos, contention, corruption and confusion abound. We must repent and turn away from our many sins. We must return to the Lord. Our fear of the Lord and His righteous judgment should be much greater than our fear of either candidate being elected into office.

In my next blog I’ll address some principles for the polling booth.

As a pastor and community leader, I have often been asked to share my perspective on perhaps the most perplexing and pugilistic national election cycle in the history of the American political landscape.

Never before have we been so politically polarized. The candidates who remain standing in this protracted and bloody battle for the highest office in our land, and the world for that matter, leave most of us staring with a stunned look of disgust and utter amazement. We are left with what is best described as an “anyone but” position where large segments of our society are not voting for a candidate but against the one they find most abhorrent.

While we all realize this is not the way the political process is supposed to operate, nevertheless, another election rapidly closes in upon us demanding our response as voters.

So what are we to do?

First, let’s discuss some things NOT to do.

What Not to Do

1] Don’t let this election drive a wedge between you and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Our identity as followers of Christ trumps (no pun intended) all political affiliations. We must continue to love and respect family members who land in a different place during this most contentious of all election cycles. The last thing we need is more disunity, anger and criticism in the Body of Christ.

2] Don’t let this election drive a wedge between you and the people we are called to reach with the gospel. Our Christian Worldview gives us the totally unfair advantage of knowing the big picture. Jesus Christ is Lord of history, including election cycles! Our mandate is to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28) by leading them into a personal relationship with Christ and teaching them to obey everything Jesus taught. We must violently oppose every wicked idea that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) while we passionately love the people who hold these bad ideas! Our mission does not change. So let’s stay full of grace and joy as we fight for biblical principles to be expressed in our public arena and in the lives of the candidates. Hate bad ideas – love the people who hold them!

I’ll pick this up again in my next blog.